Thursday, July 14, 2016

Scrambled Thoughts XVII - End of School Style

1 - He's a heart-melter, this one.

And he knows it. Just today this conversation went down,
"Hey Teek, guess what?"
"You love me."
"How did you know I was going to say that?!"
"Because you say dat all duh time. And you say I'm duh k-YOU-tist."
"Well, you are the cutest!"
"Yeah. I know dat cause you say dat all duh time."

Ego. fed.

2 - Miles is a competitor. Also, his hair is amazing.

Sometimes my mind flashes back to one experience when Miles was in the transition phase between baby and toddler. My parents know the day because they were there, too, watching with amazement as little Miles, completely wrapped up in his own thoughts and determination, worked to master stepping up and down an inch-deep step where the porch turned to gravel. He fell and fell and fell, and turned around to hit it again, again, again. I remember my dad leaning slightly over to my mom and pointing his finger to pull her attention to the sheer grit that was coming from Miles. We watched him work in that one spot with an attention span much longer than was appropriate for his age, and we knew that we were seeing one of his core personality traits.

Miles is amazing. His mind is quick, his coordination is good, and we've stopped giving him any sort of handicap advantage when playing games with his older siblings. Card games, basketball games, board games, soccer games... he has an innate ability to grasp the rules, strategize, and compete.

This is his game face. Notice the kids in the background? How relaxed and non-competitive they look? It was a purely non-competitive field day... no points, no races, just fun. But Miles was there to compete anyway. It was fascinating to see him switch his game face on and off, on and off, on and off, when he was about to run, and when he was laughing and playing with his friends.

3 - Carson goes through shoes like band-aids.

Which is a small problem when you're trying to do the water limbo in a ditch. During the school year, he wore through four pairs of tennis shoes (and we even bought expensive ones once to see if that helped... it didn't). And so far this summer he's gone through three pairs of flip flops. That's an average of 10 summer days a pair, people.

So, if you see him walking around with the soles literally falling off the bottoms of his feet, don't worry. He is loved and fed and well cared for and will have new shoes eventually. In the meantime, good thing it doesn't rain much here.

And if you see me coming out of the store with a cart filled with 48 pairs of flip flops all the same size, you'll know why.

4 - What would I say to someone who says they've met the Energizer Bunny?

Me too! Seriously. Carson's teacher has more energy than the kids in her classroom every. single. day. She jumps and runs and plays their games. She dances and cheers and pumps her fists in the air... you could make a movie about her, she's that unique and wonderful. She wasted no time during field day and jumped right into the games while all the parents and other teachers stood around and smiled.

5 - Carson has good friends and a good heart

Carson became responsible this year. Weird to say, maybe, because how do you really pinpoint the moment that you become something like responsible? But he did. He started taking responsibility for his school work, he started wearing matching clothes to school, he started remembering to brush his teeth every night, he started doing his morning chores without seventy six reminders... It's fantastic. He's fantastic.

Plus, his caring heart spent a week in agony trying to decide which of the people in his class he should invite to the pizza party he earned. The kids were rewarded for things like good behavior with Honey Bucks, and one of the thing they could buy with their accumulated Bucks was a pizza party with two friends during lunch time. Several of the kids had earned this prize throughout the year, and Carson was one of them. He had been invited to others pizza parties in the past, and had already bought one for himself several months before, and now that he had enough money to buy another one he was charged with the responsibility of picking two friends to eat with him. It was near the end of the school year, and he told me one night that there were several kids in his class that had never been invited to a pizza party, or who never earned enough money to buy one for themselves, and he wanted to invite all of them (five-ish, I believe). So I sent a text to his teacher, and she made it happen. He has such a beautiful heart.

6 - Middle school band concerts can actually be amazing

Maybe it's because my expectations were so low at the beginning of the year, but I was blown away by the sound that came from our middle school band. They were awesome! And if it hadn't been for the fact that we were sitting on hard, backless bleachers, I could have sat and listened to them for quite a bit longer than they actually played.

Kenz worked hard at mastering her instruments this year. She wanted to play the oboe, so her band instructor started her with a clarinet for the first half of the year (because, apparently, they are quite similar to the oboe and much easier to play), and then switched her when she was ready. McKenzie brought the oboe home and practiced frequently, and I was so proud of her hard work.

It feels good to accomplish something.

7 - TK looks cute in pigtails

Also, how awesome is it that the K-2nd grade school has little paintings like this up all over their hallways? This school is amazing, and I just loved being there every week. They encourage the children to be good students, of course, but way more than that, they encourage the children to be good people. I felt like everyone was on the same page over there... the office staff, the teaching staff, the principle - I just loved being there every week, and I was happy to have Miles there every single day.

8 - It's a delicate balance trying to find music for the car that pleases both TK and me.

TK's music class CD was not one. I put him in a little music class this year and, let me tell you, it was the highlight of his life. Every single morning he would wake up and ask, "Is it my moozik cass today?!" And every single morning except for Mondays I would have to say, "Not today, bud. Your music class is on Monday." He loved it, of course, and I loved most of it, too. The teacher was spunky, the songs were fun, but the CD of all the songs made me want to rip my ears off.

Seeing him up on that (tiny) stage was so fun - he loved it and felt so proud to be there.

9 - This girl is stealing my heart lately

She is turning into such an incredible young woman.

Of course, I suppose that she's been turning into an incredible young woman from the day she was born, and perhaps it would be more accurate to say that she's continuing to turn into an incredible adult.

She has landed in a great group of girls. Drama and fun. Kenz doesn't do the drama very much. She mostly stays out of it, but the challenge has been to help her feel sympathetic towards those that do feel the drama. I get it, because I was quite anti-drama when I was her age, too. I ended up settling with one best girl friend, and tons of boys because, less drama.

The blog was absolutely fantastic! Lots of funny and daily life stuff, both of which we allneed!b Keep ‘em coming… you all do such a great job at such a good writing… can’t tell you how much I, for one appreciate all you do! Masonry Repair Brooklyn

Me, Him, and Them

Curious?

With the recent article published in the Ensign, I've noticed a bit of traffic navigating through my blog trying to find the rest of the story about Brian's heart attack.

There really is something healing that comes from learning of another's trial - I feel it for others, too - so even though this story is incredibly personal, I want you to know that it's okay if you're curious about it.

I've provided a link here for easy access to the (long) story that I'll leave up for as long as I feel it's being used, but please understand that these words were written through the height of some of the most emotionally fragile moments of my life and were written for the primary purpose of family history, and a secondary purpose of letting my close friends and family in on my heart. It is raw. And it is so very personal. Please be only kind. :)

Harvest Humor

End of OctoberAlright, I haven't been keeping up on this sidebar as much as I'd have liked... but here are the few little tidbits I have recorded from the last few months:

*Kenz: these blackberries are all squishy.Carson: Yeah. Whenever I eat my strawberries, I just try really hard not to taste them.

*I walked in on McKenzie sifting through a laundry basket for some socks with her back towards me and overheard her grunting like she was struggling. 'Kenz, are you okay?' I asked with concern. 'Yeah!' she replied quickly. Then she turned to face me and I noticed that her hands were tucked up into her sleeves, leaving her elbows exposed. 'I'm just trying to be a chicken.'

*Miles, in playing the game Sorry, started mumbling before his turn, 'Don't get a 2. Don't get a 2.' and when he turned his card over and saw the 2 staring up at him, he dropped his shoulders and exclaimed, "Oh, for piece of SAKE!"

*After sampling much of the frosting that was supposed to go on the sugar cookies he was decorating, Carson rolled off of his stool moaning and holding his stomach. "Ugh. I can't even stand the sight of this anymore."

*Miles and his new friend, Zane, were playing tag around the house. After about ten minutes I heard Miles say, "You don't actually know how to play tag, do you."

*Before crossing the street, Kenz stopped dead in her tracks and said, "Wait, mom, wait. I want to be safe."

*Miles: What? There aren't even castles in Las Vegas?

*As I was saying my morning prayer, Miles came bounding in and climbed on my back. I huddled over like a turtle to try to create a safe place for me to keep my face while my eyes were closed, and he squirmed around on my back waiting for me to finish. After I was done, I opened my eyes and slowly turned my head to stare into his eyes that were just inches away from my own. "Mom," he whispered, "my underwear has a hole in it."

*"Spotlight!" Brian yelled. Every evening around the dinner table, we give each child a spotlight time where they can talk about their day without being interrupted. I guess Miles hasn't caught onto this thing we've been doing for several years because he said, "Oh! Okay! Okay! Everyone, be quiet! I'm spotting! Let's see... I spot... I spot... I spot something red."

*Kenzie: In a book, a witch can take out her eyeballs and put them back in.Me: That's disgusting.Miles: That's adorable.A second of silenceDad: Miles, do you know what adorable means?Miles: yeah, like, bad.Me: Cute. It means cute.Miles: Oh!!! Well, then. TK is adorable.Dad: Yes. That makes more sense.

*I asked Carson to peek over the edge of the balcony to see if anyone was in the pool.Me: Is anyone down there?Carson: Yep. Just a guy in a swimming suit and a girl in a blue zucchini. Me: ? ? ? ? Okay... I love that you don't know this... but I'm pretty sure you mean bikini.

April 4 (Friday)We went to tour the Ft. Lauderdale Temple. As we drove close to it Miles exclaimed: Oh! I see a pointy! Is that it?!April 3 (Thursday)Miles: Please turn the music up mom! I can't even hear it a speck!April 2 (Wednesday) After coloring and cutting, Miles showed me his creation and said: Look! I didn't even cut my hands off.Well, that's good.April 1 (Tuesday)Put food coloring on the kids' toothbrushes this morning. Blue teeth all day.March 31 (Monday)Miles: Mom, you know you're beautiful, right?Me: Well (what do you say to that?), you think I'm beautiful?Miles: Yeah, but you know that, right?Me: I guess I do. I know I'm beautiful because I'm a daughter of God... and that makes me beautiful.Miles: Well. God made you beautiful.March 28 (Friday)Shopping in the grocery store, I sent McKenzie off to grab an item.Me: Why is Kenzie taking so long?Miles: Maybe she's kissing someone.March 26 (Wednesday)Me: Miles! I'm so proud of you for your coloring! (he'd been frustrated to tears by his mistakes earlier in the month, but had worked hard to get it right) I don't even know how you got so good! Actually, I do know... you got better because of all the hard work and practice you did.Miles: Well... *narrows his eyes in a thoughtful way* Practice AND skills.March 24 (Monday)Kenzie: My feet are full of shoes. *pause* Wait! *intense laughing* I mean! My shoes are full of feet!!! *pause* No! *tears streaming down her face* I mean! My shoes are full of sand!March 20 (Thursday)Miles, looking for somethign he lost, pulled open the garbage can and stuck his face right in. "Mwaaaaoooooohhhhhh! That smells baaaaaaaaaaad!"March 18 (Tuesday)Lyrics of a song about the atonement says the greatest battle that ever was won, this was won by Jesus. After hearing this line,Miles: Did Jesus lose?Carson: No, Miles. Jesus always wins.Miles: Oh yeah! Of course. Because he can just make himself a sword.March 17 (Monday)Carson has a hard time savoring his food because he's usually too busy shoveling it into his mouth as fast as he can. We've talked about this and I've (repeatedly) told him that eating can be an enjoyable experience that can last a long time if he'd just slow down a bit. On the way home from a restaurant, he held his gummy-candy-dessert in his hand and I heard this conversation from the backseat:Carson (under his breath in a disappointed tone): Aw, man. Mom said I can't have anymore.Kenzie (overhearing him): What? She did not say that, Carson. She won't care if you eat all of it.Carson: SHHHHHH!!! Kenzie! I'm trying to convince myself not to eat it!Whatever works, I guess.March 14 (Friday) Miles: Mom? Is my heart playing music ALL the time and I just can't hear it?Me: Um. Well. What do you mean, heart playing music?Miles: Just like, is it always playing that music, or does it only play it when it's really quiet?Me: Well, your heart beats all day, every day, and all night, every night. It always plays the music.What a sweet way to describe the sound of your heartbeat in your ears...March 12 (Wednesday)Carson: Why does the air smell like Root Beer?March 10 (Monday)Miles: We are all naked heads.Me: Excuse me?Miles: We are all naked heads because we don't have anything on our heads. If we had hats on then we would be hat heads, but we don't... So that means we're naked heads.Me: I guess that makes sense.March 8 (Saturday)Miles: I'm just going to kill TK I love him so much!Me: Um. Can we find another way to show him that love, please?March 6 (Thursday)Miles, at 1:00pm: Mom! Mom! Mom-mom-mom-mom-mom!!! Look!!! 100!!! Mom! Look! The clock says 100!!! ... Wow. Just, wow. I can't believe it. The very second daddy comes home I'm going to tell him what I saw. .. Wow. Wow.March 3 (Monday)Somehow the entire family was jinxed except for Miles. In attempts to avoid saying our names, he spent the evening calling Daddy 'big guy' and me 'old lady'

February 20 (Thursday)When Miles noticed me standing next to him as I spoon-fed the baby, he quietly moved to the other side of the table and left the chair behind me open. "Miles," I exclaimed, touched that he noticed I might want to sit down "that was so thoughtful of you! I'm impressed by how perceptive you were to the fact that I might want to sit down. Thank you! Do you know what perceptive means?" He stopped chewing for a second and said, "I don't know what that means, but I only moved because I didn't want your big booty in my face."

February 19 (Wednesday)*Eating at Wendy's, Carson, about a quarter of the way into his junior bacon cheeseburger, bit deeply and rolled his eyes back in a happy sigh. "Ahhhh....." he said, "I hit the bacon."

*After polishing off that entire junior bacon cheeseburger and fries, he looked at the rest of the table and said, "Well, that was good. Now I'm just normal hungry and not starving. What else can I have?"

February 18 (Tuesday)Me: Carson, don't throw that rock at the window.Carson: Huh?Me: I think you're forgetting that there's a big glass sheet behind those blinds.Carson: No, I didn't forget. I actually know a lot about windows.

February 17 (Monday)Carson: Miles, you have to eat more of your Raman. Don't drink any more water because water is very filling AND the Raman is very filling. I know because I had water and Raman and they were both really filling so I needed to get something that wasn't so filling and then I got bread because bread is not filling.

February 14 (Friday)Glitter, glitter, glitter. So much glitter on all of those valentines.February 12 (Wednesday)After an especially loud clap of thunder Miles asked in seriousness, "Are dinosaurs doing that?"

February 10 (Monday)Kenzie: Why do I keep forgetting things?Carson: Are you Dory?

February 9 (Sunday)Happy Birthday baby TK!

February 6 (Thursday)Lamenting that we had to leave Disney World, Miles says, "If only we could keep going and going and going to Disney World, and only stop going when we die."McKenzie: Or you could stop going when you're a grandpa.Miles: Oh, that's true. 'Cause Grandpa's don't like going on the rides anyway.

February 5 (Wednesday)Me: Wow, Carson. You must have really liked that carrot cake!Carson: No, actually I didn't.Me: But you ate the whole thing...Carson: Yeah... (looks down at his plate)... I'm going to get some nachos.

February 4 (Tuesday)Happy Birthday to my awesome 10-year-old!

February 3 (Monday)After taking a long drink of root beer, Miles gasped and said, "Wow. This drink is so good my eyes are gonna die."January 31 (Friday)Timothy laughs at me every time I walk into a room today. I love being hilarious.

January 29 (Thursday)In an effort to teach our kids to give more meaningful prayers, we've told them that they can't say 'Heavenly Father, we're grateful for this day'... Miles saying the family prayer: Heavenly Father, we're grateful for this da-- *whisper* oops... sorry, DadBrian: That's okay, Miles. Try again and don't forget to think about what you're saying.Miles: Okay... Heavenly Father, we're grateful for this d-- wwwweeeeeeek.

January 28 (Wednesday)Just before bed, Carson McKenzie and Miles all started running around the house like madmen, doing pushups, situps, and literally bouncing off the walls.Brian: Okay, guys. It is time. to. stop.Carson: Okay, Dad! I'm okay with stopping because tomorrow," he held his arms out like Popeye, "I'll be STRONGER!"... still not sure if that was a threat.

January 27 (Tuesday)Me going through a corner in their room: Guys! You guys are living like pigs in here!Miles: What do pigs live in?Me: Filth.Miles: *eyes widening in excitement, he ran from the room to tell his siblings* Guys!!! GUYS!!! GUUUUYYYYYS! Did you even know that pigs live in a fort!?

January 26 (Monday)During lunch, the kids were so busy one-upping each other on what they were going to eat, that they weren't actually eating anything.McKenzie: I'll eat this whole table!Carson: Then I'll eat this whole room!McKenzie: Then I'll eat this whole HOUSE!!!-on and on and on- until finally I said,Me: And I will eat this whole world and all of you with it so you can't eat anything else. Now, eat your lunch.McKenzie: Well... now that I know you're going to eat the whole world, I'm going to escape into space... and after you eat the whole world, I'm going to eat YOU.

January 22 (Thursday)Timothy playing in the toilet. I had JUST, JUST, JUST cleaned it so trust me... it was funny. Even though he was snatched away as soon as he was discovered.

January 21 (Wednesday)Watching the entire family hover around Timothy as he claps and claps and claps. Love that!

January 20 (Tuesday)Me: Carson, it's time to do some reading.Carson: But! Can I help you sweep instead?Me: Nope... it's time to read. You can pick anything you want.Carson: *slumped shoulders* I never get to clean.January 19 (Monday)Brian was bouncing Timothy on his knee when Timothy turned to his face and said, "hiiiiiiiiiiiii' in the sweetest little tone you could ever imagine. Heart melt.

January 18 (Sunday)Me: Miles, what are you thinking about?Miles: Beaks.

January 17 (Saturday)Kenzie: I am going to faint from the goodness of this corn syrup.

January 16 (Friday)Kenzie: Wow! Just, wow. Who knew that Windex could do such wonderful things?

January 15 (Thursday) Carson and Miles playing soccerCarson: Where's my goal, Miles?Miles: You don't have one.Carson: Then how am I supposed to get points!?Miles: Ummmm... it's okay if only I get points.January 14 (Wednesday)Miles giving Kenzie half of his cookieMiles: Here Kenz, you have this side and I'll have this side.Kenz: Gross.Miles: Oh... you don't want my spit?

January 13 (Tuesday)Miles asking about his hangnail: Can we please cut this, because it will hatch on something.Me: it will hatch on somethings?Miles: yeah... like any time I put my feet under the blankets...Me: Oh, you mean catch on something.Miles: That's what I said. Can we just cut it?

January 12 (Monday)After asking Miles if he wanted leftover broccoli soup for lunch, he was obviously torn.Miles: If only there were two of me. Then I could have the broccoli soup, and I could not have the broccoli soup...

January 11 (Sunday)Miles: I can't stop making my hands smell like ham.

January 10 (Saturday) Miles: If only I was a giant. Then I could sit on anyone I wanted.

January 9 (Friday)McKenzie: Wow. It smells really great in here! *pause* Or is that baby poop?

January 8 (Thursday)Walked in on Carson making up a song. He couldn't even get through a line without laughing so hard at himself he doubled over. How fun to be so hilarious.

January 7 (Wednesday)TK's dance moves are awesome... head shaking and bobbing along to the music will get all of us laughing!

January 6 (Tuesday)Hopping into the heated poolMiles: This is so warm, I'm gonna die!

January 5 (Monday)

October 24 (Thursday)Carson: That would be funny if I woke up in the middle of the night and found a head in my bed.October 23 (Wednesday) Carson: Miles, don't step in the lava or you will die.Miles: It's okay if I die because then I can ask Jesus to make me again but this time with blue blood.October 22 (Tuesday)Carson: Kenz, you should write a chapter book. I bet you could do that tomorrow.October 21 (Monday)Miles: Dad, I love you. You are the best angel I ever saw.October 20 (Sunday)Brian to me: We need to hurry to church because I'm not sure any of the boys will have remembered to bring the sacrament bread, so I have half a loaf.Miles: Um... Do I have to eat it?Brian: Well... yes... ?Miles: *slumped shoulders* I don't think I like cap-a-loaf.October 19 (Saturday)Watching football as a family.Me: Please don't be football playersCarson: Yeah. I do NOT like getting hurt.October 18 (Friday)Miles: Yesterday and a long time ago can we have those for lunch?October 17 (Thursday)Miles walked up to Brian who was falling asleep on the couch. "Dad, can you move? I'm sitting there." Brian looked around himself. "I do not think that you are, Miles."October 16 (Wednesday)Miles: Gas is not even magical. It can't fly.

October 15 (Tuesday)Carson: Let's make a pyramid with boobies on it!Me from the other room: (!)Carson: Yeah! All sorts of booby traps!Me: *whew*October 14 (Monday)Looking for shapes in the sky Miles saw a unicorn, and a donkey with three legs and greasy hair.

October 13 (Sunday)Carson was becoming quite frustrated in a debate with Miles over whether or not Miles was literally the character on Despicable me named Vector.Carson: MOM! Is Miles Vector?Me: yes.Carson: No, he's not.Miles: See, I am.Carson: Miles, you're not Vector.October 12 (Saturday)Searching around in our storage unit downtown, Miles stayed clear away from a wooden rocking chair that we'd wrapped up tightly in sheets and plastic wrap to keep it safe from scratching. "I know," he said, "that that is not a monster. But I think that it is."October 11 (Friday)I love when I tell my kids to get dressed in the morning they automatically put on their swimming suits.

October 10 (Thursday)Miles talked to Brian on the phone for about 30 minutes tonight. Every time the conversation would lag, Brian would say, "well, can I talk to Carson now?" And Miles would respond. "Nope. I'm going to talk to you for a long, long time and maybe after that long time you can talk to Carson."October 9 (Wednesday)A tooth for Timothy!October 8 (Tuesday)Got to see a good friend tonight. Miss that lady.October 7 (Monday)Driving around Las Vegas with my parents. Love those people.October 5 (Saturday)General Conference! Love this stuff.October 4 (Friday)I jumped out of the closet at the kids one morning to scare them and, oh boy did it work! Both older kids ended up on the floor, and for the whole rest of the day Miles kept saying, "Remember dat time Mama jumped out at us? I was fweaked out at dat."October 3 (Thursday)Miles: This is a frozen napkin because it has blood on it.October 2 (Wednesday)Kids wanted to read a few chapters in the book we're reading, but it was getting late. "Alright," I said, "if we can get the house clean by..." I glanced at the clock to give a realistic time frame as Miles tried to finish my sentence."Kenzie?"Kenzie: "Hey!"Me: "Um, no. 7:30."October 1 (Tuesday)Miles was disappointed after the receipt checker at Costco handed back a bald smiley face. (Miles's hair is so loud that they usually take notice and add that on to the top of the smiley faces head.)"When we get home," he said. "I'm going to draw hair one me. Curly with red. Otherwise I'll just be dead."September 30 (Monday)"Guess a shape!" I yelled in the pool. Carson knew that if he didn't guess the right shape, he would be dunked. "Square?!""Nope!" *dunk*"Circle?!" "Nope!" *dunk*"Octopus!?""...what?! No!" *dunk**sputtering through laughter* "Oops. I meant octagon."September 29 (Sunday)Me: Go grab a book.Miles: Um. I want the one that... well... it's the sneezing one...?Me: Sneezing? I don't think I know that one.Miles: Um. Like, with sneezing ones?Me: ?Miles: The bears... and they're sneezing sometimes?Me: Bears... do you mean the Berenstain Bears and the Excuse Note?Miles: Yes! That one!

Apparently we need to refine our definitions on 'excuse' and 'achoo'September 28 (Saturday)Miles picked a scab. 'Uh oh,' he said. 'Now I have a bloody nose on my arm.'September 27 (Friday)Riding our bikes, Miles's training wheels were extremely squeaky. Me: I think it's rusty.Kenz: I think the bolt is on too tightly.Miles: I think a mouse died and then came back to life and is squeaking. I guess that's just how he says, "AHHHHH!!!!"

September 26 (Thursday)Miles: Mom, I love you like twenty four zero six.Carson: That's like... 2,460 (thinking harder). Except that you mixed up the last two numbers, Miles. You should have said six zero. Not zero six.

Wait... who mixed up the numbers?September 25 (Wednesday)I slept in this morning and woke to very proud kids. "We already did our prayer-bladder-clothes-chores!" (our normal morning routine) McKenzie announced proudly. "And, we tidied the rest of the house, too!""Wow!" I said."And, we changed Timothy into an adorable outfit and gave him his bottle.""Goodness...""And we started breakfast.""You've had a very productive morning!" I should sleep in more often..."And we smelled all the dirty clothes in the dirty clothes hamper to make sure that they're dirty."

My breakfast of buttered toast was waiting on the table for me when I came out, surrounded by those three proud kids. "Is it right mom?! Did we do your toast right?!""You sure did!" I said. As I bit in, I didn't mention that I don't generally spread two tablespoons of butter on each piece, and tried not to imagine the dirty little fingers that I'm sure assisted in the spreading.

September 24 (Tuesday) Giving me a tutorial on how pool chairs workMiles: This is how you can sit when you want to sit straight up. Hopping up and running around to the back of the chair to lower it a notch, and then running back to sit down again. And this is how you can sit when you want to sit almost straight up. Running around to lower it, running back again. And this is how you can sit when you want to almost lie down. While lowering it this next time, he dropped it and it crashed on his head. Oh. Ouch. That one isn't actually one of the lessons.

September 23 (Monday)Sitting side by side on the couch reading stories, McKenzie stares intently at my profile for an uncomfortable stretch of time before saying, "Mom, you have a fuzzy nose."Carson, without missing a beat, or even looking at me, says, "Yeah, mom has a furry nose."

September 22 (Sunday)TK reached for me today. How can such a small gesture explode my heart so fast?

September 21 (Saturday)I got a giant, slobbery, spontaneous kiss from the baby. Love it when they start giving those.

September 20 (Friday)Carson: Miles! Help clean! Don't just sit there and smell Timothy.

September 19 (Thursday)Miles early in the morning: Can I have a treat?Me: no.Miles: Oh. If I do a good dance can I have a treat?

September 18 (Wednesday)Carson: I can't believe we eat cows. It's like we're monsters

September 17 (Tuesday)Staying in a furnished apartment for a little while.McKenzie: why does this place only have glass dishes?Carson: yeah, it's dangerous.McKenzie: they must not have kids.

September 16 (Monday)Brian has been working in another city for a while, and the driving back and forth between the two apartments has started to wear on me a little. When I arrived at the temporary place tonight, I found that Brian had bought some beautiful flowers and stuck them in the only vase-like thing he could find here. The blender.

September 14 (Saturday)Watching Miles dive time after time after time after a little sinking metal keychain, he came up one time and said, "Mom? Someday can we buy jellybeans?"

September 13 (Friday)Stranger passing me on the walking path: are these (kids) all yours?Me: yep.She blinked a couple of times. Ahhhhhh, the familiar speechless face. Most people don't recover from that face. I smiled at her as I walked past and heard her awed tone as she muttered slowly under her breath '...go mama...'